A Picturesque Texas Town Known As The 'Cowboy Capital Of The World' Has A Below Average Cost Of Living

If you've been struggling to keep up with the cost of living in the United States in recent years, you're not alone. Inflation has been significant post-pandemic, with prices surging across a multitude of different metrics. While a lot of different factors can cause inflation, the main thing to keep in mind is finding strategies to get around cost increases. One of these strategies is to move out of more expensive urban areas and into cheaper more rural areas as the cost of living is generally cheaper in these locations.

Knowing this, if you're thinking about moving, a good place to consider is none other than Bandera, Texas. For starters, the Lone Star state is widely known for not imposing income tax on residents, making it an appealing option for those looking to escape the burden of higher taxes. However, by moving to Bandera you can not only benefit from lower taxes, but you can also enjoy the fact that its cost of living is well below the national average.

Bandera is a small town located just outside of San Antonio. According to Payscale, the cost of living in Bandera is 17% lower than the national average, making it a potential alternative for those looking to escape the high prices that come with residing in more expensive areas. However, one of the most beneficial features of living in this quaint Texas town is none other than the affordability of housing. Bandera's overall cost of housing is 34% lower than the national average. That said, the average home price is around $330,000 while the average rent price averages around $1000 a month.

Outside of this, the price of utilities is also 6% lower than the national average, while healthcare is 9% lower as well. Similarly, if you've become used to applying different tricks to save you money when buying gas, it could be refreshing to hear that the cost of transportation in Bandera is 16% lower than the national average, with gas costing around $2.84 per gallon. Another consideration is grocery prices, which are about 11% below the national average in Bandera.

Bandera, Texas is also known as the "Cowboy Capital of the World" due to the fact that the city was used as a staging area during the final major U.S. cattle drives in the late 1800s. This being the case, it probably won't be too surprising to hear that many current Bandera residents can still be found navigating the town on horseback. Bandera is also a great place for those that love the great outdoors, as Bandera is surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty. Plus, with very short and mild winters, and year-round high temperatures ranging between 62 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll be able to enjoy the great outdoors for most of the year.

Outside of this, the small population of Bandera is known to be incredibly friendly and welcoming. That said, despite the town's small size and rural nature, the town's relatively close proximity to the city of San Antonio means that there are still plenty of accessible amenities in the general area, like grocery stores, restaurants, doctors offices, and more.